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49ers coach says his Tesla was on Autopilot when he crashed
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49ers coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that Tesla's Autopilot was engaged during his recent car crash in Palo Alto, though he continues to accept full responsibility for the incident.
A high-profile public figure acknowledging Autopilot involvement in a crash while still claiming personal responsibility reinforces the expectation that drivers remain liable regardless of automation status. The case highlights persistent ambiguity around determining whether Autopilot malfunctioned or was disengaged during incidents.
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Shanahan had Autopilot active during his crash but explicitly stated the driver always bears responsibility, calling driving a 'partnership' with the computer.
It remains unclear whether Autopilot malfunctioned or Shanahan accidentally disengaged it when he turned around, illustrating the difficulty of determining system state during incidents.
Tesla's Autopilot has been linked to hundreds of crashes and dozens of deaths, with some resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in legal settlements.
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